IRELAND’S PHIL HEALY has qualified for the semi-final of the 400m at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.
The Bandon runner finished 3rd in her heat with a time of 52.75, and so qualifies as a fastest loser.
Healy led Heat 5 at 200m, but was passed by eventual winner Stephenie Ann McPherson (Jamaica) and Eilidh Doyle (Great Britain) in the closing stages. She showed true grit and determination to hold on though, and progress to the next stage.
“If I didn’t get to the bell first I knew it was going to cost me,” she told Athletics Ireland afterwards.
“The first-ever Irish (woman) to get into the 400m World semi-final. I was coming taking it round by round. Ticked the first box. I’m happy with the way I ran out there today and put myself out there, so take it on now to the semi-final.”
The in-form Healy has enjoyed a strong indoor season filled with glittering performances to date, and will be hoping to carry that through to the World semi-final stage tonight.
.@philhealy2 on becoming the first Irish woman to advance to a world 400m semi-final indoors #IAAFWorlds pic.twitter.com/VIOxKZlDwb
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) March 2, 2018
Earlier this morning, sprint duo Ciara Neville and Amy Foster missed out on semi-final places in the 60m.
City of Lisburn’s Foster was fifth in her heat in 7.35 seconds, while 18-year-old Neville finished seventh in hers.
European bronze medalist and Olympian Ciara Mageean’s 1500m heat is this evening.
2 March – Evening session
- Ciara Mageean (UCD) – Women’s 1500m heat 7:58pm
- Phil Healy (Bandon) – Women’s 400m semi-final 8:32pm
Results
60m heat 1
- 7th Ciara Neville (Emerald) 7.47
60m heat 2
- 5th Amy Foster (City of Lisburn) 7.35
400m heat 5
- 3rd Phil Healy (Bandon) 52.75
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All things considered, I think Kerry football is in the healthiest position it has been in years. And with our hurlers in the senior championship next year – Roll on 2016!!
Jack o Connor must go down as one of the best managers the gaa has seen. All Ireland’s at minor, 21 and senior. Still has a big say in future of Kerry football by the sound of things
He has been involved in 21 All Ireland finals, all the above + schools.
He has 18 All Ireland wins – that is just amazing
Great manager but got it all wrong Sunday.
Ruth Dublin are just a better team than kerry 3 wins from 3
Kerry have a knack of pulling out a few new stars when it looks like change is needed. adding one or two of those minors and a retirement or two and you’ve a fresh and very talented squad
Lets be honest but for some terrible refreeing decisions last yr Kerry would not have been in the Final last yr.And again this yr in Killarney poor refreeing decisions put them on the good side of the draw avoiding Dublin and Mayo in the process which meant they would have been knocked out of this yrs championship at the quarter or semi final stage. This had nothing to do with Eamon fitzs “genius” as a manager.
correct John the first top team they faced beat them quiet easily all over the pitch.
I wouldn’t be writing off Kerry yet ! they have a history of getting it right and coming back and winning Sam ! However this Dublin team Definitely have their measure !
agreed lorcan kerry are definitely the second best team.
There’ll be plenty of retirements now I’d say.
Donaghy and The Gooch certainly don’t instill the same fear as they used too !